Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

According to NFL Network, the Lions plan to bring in South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney for a predraft visit.

Clowney is widely considered the best prospect in the draft and is the leading candidate to go No. 1 overall, despite lingering questions about his work ethic.

He set South Carolina records for sacks (13) and tackles for loss (23.5) as a sophomore but had just three sacks last year. He told Gamecocks coaches shortly before one game that he could not play because of sore ribs.

While many thought that Clowney took things easy as a way to preserve his draft stock, Clowney said at the NFL combine in February that that wasn’t the case.

“It wasn’t about that,” Clowney said. “I was out there trying to win, help my team win games. I wasn’t really worried about no draft stock or nothing. That’ll take care of itself when I get done. Your play is going to (determine) your draft, so I was out there trying to make plays for my team, no matter what it took.”

The 6-foot-5, 266-pound Clowney ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the combine and is considered one of the most athletic pass-rushing prospects ever.

The Lions, who pick 10th in the first round, sent defensive line coach Jim Washburn to work out Clowney at his South Carolina pro day last month.

Clowney said in February that his goal is to go No. 1 overall, and he looks forward to proving wrong people who think his play will continue to regress after he signs his first big contract.

“I believe, once I get to the NFL, it’s going to be up on my career,” Clowney said. “I just want to be the best. I want to be one of the greatest of all time, and the NFL’s just the next level, steppingstone in my way. Coming out of high school, I said I wanted to be one of the best in college, and I think I proved that. Going to the NFL, I want to be one of the best in the NFL, go down in history as one of the best, so I got another steppingstone in the way. Take care of my business and, hopefully, accomplish that in the NFL.”